Security Council Meeting

[Anchor Lead]

Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn convened a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council on Monday immediately following North Korea's ballistic missile launch. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn convened a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council on Monday morning immediately after being briefed on North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles into the East Sea. The meeting was attended by presidential chief of staff Han Gwang-ok, National Security Office chairman Kim Kwan-jin as well as foreign, unification and defense ministers and the director of the National Intelligence Service. During the meeting, Hwang said that Pyongyang's ballistic missile launch was conducted in complete disregard of repeated international warnings and is a grave and provocative act that directly challenges the global community.

[Soundbite] Hwang Kyo-ahn(Acting President) : "Given the brutality and recklessness of the N. Korean regime showcased in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, it's horrifying to even imagine what can happen if nuclear weapons are in the hands of the regime."

The officials discussed the type of missiles launched, the motive behind the latest provocation and whether any progress has been detected in North Korea's missile technology. The security council meeting also discussed whether the projectiles were intercontinental ballistic missiles or a new type of strategic weapon the North earlier mentioned. The meeting also discussed response measures as the provocation is again a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning Pyongyang from conducting ballistic missile test launches. Officials also discussed issuing a government statement condemning the launch alongside a response via the UN Security Council. It's likely that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will join hands to condemn the North's missile launch and further tighten global sanctions against the regime.